This statistical release presents figures for drug seizures made in 2015/16 in England and Wales by the police (including the British Transport Police) and Border Force. The data relate to all drugs controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (MDA), which divides drugs into three categories  Classes A, B and C  according to the harmfulness they cause to the user or to society when they are misused. Class A drugs are considered to be the most harmful.

Key findings

There were 148,553 drug seizures in England and Wales in 2015/16 (including estimated figures), an 11 per cent decrease compared with the previous year (167,059), and the fourth consecutive annual fall. Over the same time period, there was a 13 per cent decrease in the number of police recorded drug offences, which is highly correlated with the number of drug seizures.

Seizures by police forces decreased by 11 per cent between 2014/15 and 2015/16 (from 160,933 to 143,248) and seizures made by Border Force decreased by 13 per cent (from 6,126 seizures to 5,305).

The majority of seizures (96%) were made by police forces in England and Wales; however, Border Force seizures tended to be for larger quantities. In terms of quantity, Border Force seized 90 per cent of all cannabis resin, 89 per cent of anabolic steroids, 89 per cent of herbal cannabis, 84 per cent of ketamine, and 83 per cent of cocaine.